episode_0029

Alone on the remaining terrace, I gazed wistfully at the scenery outside the banquet hall. The warmth of people had dissipated, leaving a faint chill. The image of Rasherla, struggling to express her sincerity while holding back tears, flickered in my mind.

“Lord Reinhardt, please, help me.”

Rasherla had clearly confessed like this. When I asked for further explanation in response to her sudden plea for help, she seemed confused, shaking her head as if in turmoil.

“I don’t know. My father definitely schemed something during the birthday celebration… but he never told me the details.”

“Then why confide in me about the family secret, instead of anyone else?”

“I can’t tell anyone else. And here, you are the only one with the neutrality and the power to handle whatever may come.”

“Are you suggesting that the banquet hall might be attacked?”

“… I don’t know. It’s just the worst-case scenario that one can imagine.”

Rasherla was clearly betraying her family. Not only that, but she was also turning her back on the entire faction of the nobles.

“Perhaps, if you don’t tell me, the downfall of the Luate Duchy might come. But why ask for my help in that case?”

“No. That’s not it. Despite claiming to be politically neutral, your leaning towards the royal family is evident, just by watching your dance. More precisely… towards Princess Seriniel.”

“Is that how it appeared?”

I didn’t outright deny Rasherla’s thoughts with an ambiguous response. In turn, she bit her lip thoughtfully, revealing her inner turmoil.

“This is madness. There’s no way it will succeed. If it ends in failure, it’s fine with me. I’ll somehow manage to stop it after today. But if it escalates… it’s terrible. With the Emperor of Retirion, Princess Seriniel, and even you gathered here, whatever we do, success seems impossible.”

“Why don’t you reveal the truth to the royal family? I don’t want to die. To openly harbor a rebellion is unthinkable. The family will be wiped out in an instant.”

“What difference would it make if I told them?”

“It will make a difference. Definitely.”

I found Rasherla’s conviction intriguing. What had she seen in me to be so confident?

Then, her lips held a glimmer of hope.

“Please, tell Princess Seriniel. Tell her that Rasherla confessed to you out of loyalty and devotion. Ask her to spare the struggling remnants of our family, even if just out of pity.”

“Even if I tell her…”

“It will change. You are someone special to Princess Seriniel… a man who can make that iron-willed woman soften her gaze…”

“It’s hard to understand.”

“Please… I can’t walk the path of betrayal like the nobles of the Pheje or Elenoth families… I can’t do that…”

It was then that I realized the true nature of Rasherla’s fear.

She was supposed to be the daughter of a prestigious noble family, Esutiel. But after the family’s downfall, she became a scapegoat in the laundry room, enduring a miserable childhood without anyone to care for her, still struggling to speak due to the constant abuse she suffered.

Meanwhile, my barely surviving father and mother lived like ghosts crawling through the underbelly of society. They lived a life akin to a rat in the gutter, surviving in the depths of poverty.

It seemed that Rasherla was not only afraid of dying but also afraid of living a life worse than death.

“I can’t guarantee anything.”

“Lord Reinhardt!”

“However, I will consider your request. But this is only in the event of a crisis. If it ends peacefully, that will be the end of it.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“The judgment lies with the royal family. Keep that in mind.”

She bowed her head to me, the esteemed successor of the Hujak family. Yet, despite her outward composure, her anxious demeanor was evident as she stepped out onto the terrace, nervously biting her nails. And thus, the current situation, gazing into the dark sky beyond, was complete.

“What should I do?”

I listed various conflicting thoughts in my mind.

Rashera’s request.

The safety of the banquet hall.

The benefits of the mercenary corps.

Three main elements were swirling in my mind. Amidst this, a familiar woman pushed aside trivial matters and occupied a significant space.

‘Serin…’

I should probably inform her.

Rashera wanted her confession to be revealed after the situation was resolved.

If it all ends without any incident, Rashera would be seen as confessing to a baseless conspiracy. In that case, the Luarte family could be implicated based solely on her statement.

‘But that would be… excessively harsh.’

Rashera sought me out out of a desire to live. From another perspective, it was a meeting that included good intentions to prevent the family’s escape. Even though the probability was low, would it be right to trample on such earnestness?

‘Just one person. Would it be okay to inform only Serin?’

Rashera didn’t ask for that. I should directly ask Serin. Surely, Serin would listen to my story with confidence.

If it was this Serin, she seemed like she would keep the secret even if nothing happened.

As I hesitated, another piece of the past briefly flashed before me.

“…Ah. So that’s how it happened.”

My thoughts rapidly reached a turning point. And as I summed up the discomfort of the day, I finally formed a solid belief. Therefore, I was certain.

“The incident… will definitely happen.”

Time was running out. Only one person knew how the situation would unfold. I opened the door leading to the banquet hall to find that person and interrogate them.

It was peaceful.

Men and women enjoying socializing in the ballroom, their bodies swaying from the alcohol, were completely defenseless. It felt like they had become a piece of a splendid fireworks display, burning their bodies to enjoy the New Year’s festivities.

Furthermore, Rashera, ignoring the love calls of the nobles, was adorned with flowers on the wall. Her anxious appearance, with her legs trembling under the long dress, was visible through the dress’s hem.

I surveyed the banquet hall, looking around.

‘Where could they be?’

I needed to find someone who knew the truth.

But for a moment, the idea that it was more important to warn Serin first crossed my mind.

“Serin said she would talk to her mother.”

Naturally, my eyes rolled towards the throne.

In a scene where the Emperor and Empress sat side by side, Serin smiled awkwardly, as if trying to appease her mother.

Following that, as I confirmed Serin’s location with a sense of dread, two young boys entered through the main entrance of the banquet hall, engaged in a serious conversation.

It was Estiel and Serin’s younger brother, Teser. Regardless of how they became friends, it was a peculiar combination.

I should have been more daring in my actions. I should have approached Serin, ignoring the gazes around us.

As Teser ascended the throne, the Emperor, who had been guarding the seat like a mountain, stood up with dignity.

Judging by the Empress’s teasing words, it seemed that the performance was not pre-planned. The Emperor, out of affection, intended to deliver a few words of praise for the Empress. Thanks to that, I had to pause my steps.

“Ah.”

Clearing my throat, the Emperor finally moved his heavy lips.

“I thank the guests who have visited the Empress’s New Year’s celebration today.”

A brief greeting silenced the crowd. To my wife, even if she was endlessly ruthless, she was truly a prayer worthy of being called the absolute ruler of the empire.

“What a truly wonderful day. It is more delightful to see those who contribute to the country and the royal family gathered together in harmony.”

It was an ambiguous remark, whether mocking or sincere.

As all eyes were on the emperor, a courtier skillfully placed a glass of red wine on a tray and offered it to the emperor.

“Please raise your glass for the blessing of the empress and the peace of the empire.”

The figure who received the glass from the courtier was none other than the emperor and Cerinial. The empress had recently given birth and Tesser was still a minor, so drinking was a distant pastime.

I felt that the situation was very contrived.

Of all people, it had to be Cerinial and the emperor raising their glasses.

They were the two pillars supporting the current royal family.

“To cheers.”

In an instant, memories of Cerinial’s short journey with Ahre while traveling resurfaced.

It was the ambitious night of Lord Raden’s conspiracy.

At the time, Cerinial had said this.

[It’s understandable to worry about our first meeting being our first meeting. If I hadn’t drunk the drugged wine, I wouldn’t have been so easily deceived, right?]

Drugs, and wine.

There was a drug that affected Cerinial, who mimicked the emperor’s years of experience. It must have been expressed as a drug that neutralized rather than poisoned. If it was a drug that affected her to that extent, it would have already surpassed the category of a drug.

And coincidentally, only Cerinial and the emperor, possessing bodies like gods, were the ones holding the wine glasses.

And it was today, at this very moment, when Rasha warned.

“Surely not, Cerinial…!”

It was dangerous.

At the moment when instinct warned, a cheerful echo rang out before the urgent warning.

This cheerful echo was the signal of impending danger.

Time immediately slowed down.

Thus, the scene of the glass with the remaining red energy writhing on the floor passed by very slowly.

Crash!

Scattered shards of glass.

Simultaneously, flames shooting up like demons.

The dying man ignited a fireworks display that consumed his life.